The district over which Lysanias was tetrarch. Luke 3:1 . Abila was its chief city. Josephus speaks of this as "Abila of Lysanias" to distinguish it from other cities of the same name. It was described by ancient writers as eighteen miles from Damascus on the way to Heliopolis or Baalbek, and Robinson reached its site in six hours, on the eastern slope of the Anti-Libanus. The centre of the district of Abilene lies about 33 35' N, 36 5' E. Its extent is not known: it is probable that its limits varied at different times.